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even tried sleeping in it at first until I managed to persuade him otherwise. Still, I guess it’s nice that he cared what I thought.
    Back then.
    ‘Ladies,’ he grins, moving to one side and welcoming us in. As soon as the door is shut he makes the lunge for a hug – humming as his strong arms really squeeze me into his soft blue jumper and crush my Remembrance Sunday poppy, before finally releasing me and moving on to Carly. It kills me that he still smells of Issey Miyake – a scent that lingers for eternity. I make a mental note to take my coat
to the dry cleaners first thing – or to douse it in Febreze before I go to bed. There’s nothing worse than getting an unexpected whiff of an ex and being transported back to a time you’d long since forgotten … or wish you could forget.
    Thankfully Carly and me aren’t the first to arrive from our bunch – Natalia and Alastair are already loitering in the kitchen when we get there, talking to a few of Perfect Lexie’s best mates – Hannah, Alice and Phoebe.
    I smile outwardly, but internally my insides groan.
    I’m sure they’re all fantastic girls, but they love to get drunk and tell me how weird it is that I can’t let go of Dan – especially as he’s clearly so happy and well suited to their wonderful friend Perfect Lexie.
    Alice in particular freaks me out a little – she’s so cute and innocent the majority of the time, but having been jilted by her ex-fiancé a few years ago she’s super untrusting and highly suspicious of me – it’s a side of her that loves to come out when she’s been on the vino, which is a little unnerving as she’s currently stood nursing a glass of red as she leans against the kitchen side and talks to Alastair in an animated fashion.
    Yes, I understand how strange it must be for them all to have Dan’s ex floating around whenever there’s a social gathering, but I’m pretty sure I lost my grip of him and any hope of our future together when he dumped my wobbly arse and went off with their mate a couple of years ago.
    I seriously hope I’m not cornered by any of them tonight and lumbered in any sort of awkward conversation. Although, like I said, I’m sure they’re great when they’re not wined up and ready to give a lecture.
    By the time Josh joins us an hour later, we’ve moved into
the living room and the party is in full swing with around thirty of their mutual friends sipping wine and catching up on the dramas life has graced us with since our last social gathering – which I believe was Dan’s birthday last month. I’m thankful that our little group has taken ownership of Dan’s spanking new bright orange sofa, meaning I’ve been able to wedge myself in between Alastair and Natalia – making the prospect of having to talk to others outside my friendship group relatively low. Hurrah.
    ‘I can’t get over how gorgeous this place looks already,’ gushes Natalia to Perfect Lexie, who has been floating around the room serenely since we arrived, like a chuffed little fairy. There’s not even a hint of apprehension that someone might mess up her freshly decorated pad with muddy footprints or by clumsily spilling red wine on their newly restored wooden floor. It’s almost as though her mind is off somewhere else (albeit a happy place). I’d be having major anxiety if it were me. Especially as they’ve clearly worked so hard on the place. In just a week, it’s already changed drastically from the pictures I saw online during my stalking session. I’m surprised that it’s not been decorated in a twee and girlie manner like I had expected with Perfect Lexie in charge – instead it’s vibrant, bold and strong. The walls remain neutral with dull greens, greys and creams, letting the furniture and accessories bring the room to life with blocks of colour. I wouldn’t have put Dan down as the sort to have bright orange and purple sofas – but in this room it works in a non-feminine way. It’s certainly a